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Auto Blog
02-08-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
New Car Shoppers Are Sacrificing These Features to Save Money
This one's for those who want to know the nitty-gritty of what makes the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V worth the extra $12k-$20k. Most buyers will sacrifice more than you might expect Automakers continue to add flashy and expensive features to their new vehicles. The expectation is that panoramic glass roofs, reconfigurable digital gauge clusters, or head-up displays are in high demand among consumers. However, AutoPacific's 'Future Attribute Demand Study,' which surveyed more than 14,000 current new vehicle buyers about their interest in more than 160 options, suggests that actual demand for flashy features is quite low, particularly among those shopping in the $25,000-$35,000 segment. For these buyers, simplicity reigns supreme, and the allure of the latest technology doesn't attract them if it affects their monthly payment. 2025 Nissan Altima — Source: Steven Paul 'Front wheel drive, base stereos, cloth seats with various manual adjustment, and analog gauges are in for these more frugal shoppers,' says Robby DeGraff, AutoPacific's manager of product and consumer insights. 'So, the array of standard equipment found on entry- and mid-level trims of today's popular vehicles within the $25,000-to-$35,000 price range may need to be reexamined as consumers tighten their belts in the face of economic uncertainty.' What some, but not all, buyers want The commonly-found features that matter most to those in the under-$35,000 segment are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, selectable drive modes, a heated steering wheel, and a power front passenger seat. Yet these are must-haves among a mere 26% of buyers in this segment. That's a little more than one-in-four buyers, not exactly overwhelming demand. Other features fare even worse. Consider all-wheel drive, which is demanded by 24% of buyers, a memory driver's seat by 23% or welcome lighting at 22%. Then there's a reconfigurable digital gauge cluster at 21%, a panoramic glass roof at 20%, a head-up display and premium audio at 15%, and leather upholstery at 11% – or slightly more than one-in–ten. 2025 Toyota Camry XSE — Source: Toyota If you think such items are more important to buyers with fatter wallets, guess again. The numbers are not significantly higher, although their priorities differ. According to the AutoPacific study, the feature most desired by wealthier buyers is selectable drive modes, which are demanded by 33% of buyers, or just one in three. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a power front passenger seat, heated steering wheel, and a premium audio system tie at 31%, followed by all-wheel drive at 29%, and welcome lighting at 28%. A memory driver's seat, reconfigurable digital gauge cluster, and a panoramic glass roof come next at 27% each, followed by a head-up display at 23%, premium audio at 21%, and leather upholstery at 18%. 2026 Cadillac LYRIQ-V — Source: Cadillac What do $25k-$35k vehicle buyers want? According to AutoPacific, buyers in the $ 25,000-$35,000 range are more open to sedans powered by a conventional internal combustion engine, around 20% want their next vehicle to be a hybrid, and only 5% want it to be a battery-electric vehicle. Keep in mind that these buyers are trading in vehicles that are more than 11 years old, with about a third considering a new vehicle for the first time. Given that, it's a little surprise that they prefer an instrument panel with an analog gauge cluster and conventional controls, alongside a modest center touchscreen without embedded navigation. 2024 Mazda CX-90 — Source: Mazda Yet they still want wireless smartphone charging pads, heated/ventilated front seats, a 110-volt outlet, driver profile settings, and active safety features. With a median household income of $50,000, these buyers are suburban, drive less than 20 miles daily, and have no children living at home. Approximately 31% are Millennials, 29% are Baby Boomers, and 57% are female. Ford Mustang Mach-E — Source: Ford Final thoughts New vehicle prices are rising far faster than the rate of inflation, as automakers continue to ignore new vehicle affordability. Consider that the average new car price in June 2025 was $48,907 according to Cox Automotive. Eleven years earlier, it was $32,556, an increase of more than 50% at a time when inflation rose 35%, according to the Federal Reserve. AutoPacific's 'Future Attribute Demand Study' shows that entry-level buyers are being ignored by an industry too infatuated with pleasing its most profitable customers at the expense of the rest. Source: Adobe Stock Photo 'It's good for models in that price range to offer some fancier, lower-demand features, but those should be optional and limited to higher trim levels, which can also serve to capture customers of bigger and nicely-equipped models who may be downsizing into more affordable segments as they tighten their belts,' says Ed Kim, AutoPacific's president and chief analyst. About the Author Larry Printz View Profile
Miami Herald
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Recent Survey Shows Car Buyers Want Simplicity To Save Money
New cars are more expensive than ever, but it's hard to nail down one reason as the driving force behind that trend. New technologies and features are a significant factor behind price increases, as it's ridiculously expensive to pack screens, cameras, and sensors into a car. A recent survey from AutoPacific found that buyers shopping for budget-friendly cars would rather have a more straightforward ride, reporting that they would gladly do without some of the features that come with more expensive vehicle purchases. AutoPacific surveyed more than 14,000 potential new car buyers in the sub-$35,000 price range, asking about their interest in new features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, leather seats, and sunroofs. While many said they'd like to have smartphone connectivity and other features, they were far less interested in tech like head-up displays, configurable gauge clusters, and fancy lighting animations. AutoPacific's manager of product and consumer insights, Robby DeGraff, said, "Front-wheel drive, base stereos, cloth seats with various manual adjustments, and analog gauges are 'in.' So the array of standard equipment found on entry- and mid-level trims of todays popular vehicles within the $25,000 to $35,000 price range may need to be reexamined as consumers tighten their belts in the face of economic uncertainty." Budget buyers may care less about some features, but they agree with their more affluent counterparts in some areas. Everyone cares about safety equipment, like parking sensors and automatic emergency braking, though the budget buyers were less interested in semi-autonomous driving features and adaptive cruise control. The number of new cars in the sub-$35,000 price range has dwindled, but there are still several great choices available. Nissan still sells the Versa for under $20,000 to start, and it's hard to spec a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic past the $30,000 mark. Related: Why Cheap New Cars Are Disappearing in 2025 Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Fury as popular tax break set to end in the fall: 'Hypocritical and short-sighted'
A well-used tax credit is being put out to pasture. Car analysts are not happy. The Republican sweeping Big, Beautiful Bill will eliminate the $7,500 tax credit for new EV and plug-in hybrid purchases — a key incentive created under the Inflation Reduction Act. A $4,000 credit for buyers of used electric vehicles will also get the axe on September 30. Critics of the credit argue it reins in spending on programs that haven't lived up to expectations. 'Following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, there have been significant concerns about the cost of these tax credits,' Bernie Moreno, a Republican Senator from Ohio and former car dealership manager, wrote in an open letter. But supporters of the tax break see a missed opportunity. 'It's almost hilariously hypocritical and short-sighted — but that's the Trump Administration,' Robby DeGraff, the manager of consumer insights at AutoPacific, told 'It's really all a shame, especially from a paranoid administration so hellbent on ensuring "consumer choice."' Buyers can still qualify for credits on eligible vehicles purchased before September 30. Republicans have long criticized the EV credits, arguing the incentives were out of step with consumer demand and too generous to an industry they see as premature. EV adoption has steadily grown since the program launched. But the vehicles still make up just around 10 percent of the overall new car market — falling short of the rapid transition lawmakers envisioned. The credit was designed with two main goals in mind: supercharge domestic manufacturing and encourage Americans to transition to lower-emission vehicles. DeGraff outlined three key ways he believes the removal of the credit under Trump's bill will backfire. First, he said the bill will push car prices even higher. In June, it cost around $49,000 to drive a new set of wheels off a dealership lot. That pushed the average monthly payment above $700. Right now, Americans are paying a premium for electric vehicles, in part due to the costs of ramping up domestic production. The now-expiring credit helped offset those investment costs for consumers, but only for vehicles built largely in the US. Second, DeGraf said the tax bill will crush American manufacturing. 'Slower sales and demand will lead to production pauses at plants and consequently layoffs,' he said. 'Perhaps the comical thing to consider, is that many of these states that do build EVs and have received massive investments and had automakers employ massive amounts of workers are Republican states.' Finally, DeGraff said it makes it harder for US automakers to compete globally. Major Chinese automakers have received huge subsidies for their vehicles. Companies like BYD, Nio, XPeng, and Zeekr have built competitive, low cost vehicles in highly automated factories. The cars typically have higher build quality, electric range, and technology, all for a cheaper price. And they're coming to global markets, where American manufacturers want to be competitive. China and EU officials are currently negotiating how to bring the cheap EVs to the European market without crushing the continent's local carmakers. American delegates are reportedly not involved in that negotiation. Detroit's big three carmakers likely aren't having their voices heard in the market, which is the largest in the world. Meanwhile, some of America's biggest carmaking employers — including GM, Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and their parts suppliers — are already under pressure. Carmakers are paying 25 percent tariffs on some of their vehicles and parts shipped to the US.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Toyota redesigns America's top-selling RAV4 SUV
America's favorite car is getting a major facelift . After months of cryptic teasers and close-up shots that revealed little more than headlights and body lines, Toyota has finally pulled the cover off the redesigned RAV4. Next year's RAV4 ditches gas-only entirely, going all-in on hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Aesthetically, it sports a chunkier, more upright stance that gives the compact SUV a more menacing vibe — and early impressions are positive. 'There's a RAV4 for everyone's taste,' Robby DeGraff, a product and consumer insights expert at AutoPacific, told 'The sixth-gen RAV4's boxier shape rewards consumers with a much bigger, wider appearance.' Toyota's new plug-in system cranks out up to 320 horsepower — an 18 hp increase over the outgoing model — and now delivers an estimated 50 miles of all-electric range. It also brings DC fast-charging to the table, which juices the battery from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. The plug-in charging speed is not impressive: other EVs can reach the same levels in shorter periods of time with much larger batteries. But hybridizing the RAV4 felt like an obvious choice for the brand. Toyota has been relaunching several best-selling cars, like the Camry, as an all-hybrid lineup. Toyota's hybrid system adds a boost of electric torque during low-end speeds and optimizes fuel efficiency on the highway. The engineneering allows drivers to enjoy enhanced driving dynamics and less pain at the gas pump. Toyota has not released pricing or mileage estimates yet. But scuttlebutt around the release is estimating a base-price in the mid $30,000s and top-end models fetching a little less than $50,000. Expect Toyota to make hundreds of thousands of copies at its battery and assembly plant in Kentucky. US-based production will make the popular SUV less susceptible to President Donald Trump's 25 percent automotive tariffs. For those prices, Toyota can expect the RAV4 to virtually print money for the corporation. The Japanese brand shocked the automotive world last year, outpacing the Ford F-150 as America's best-selling vehicle with 475,193 units sold from American dealerships. The 2026 model year also introduces a trio of new spec options: core, rugged, and sport, each tailored to a different kind of SUV owner. Drivers can opt for the LE, XLE, and Limited trims and upgrade to ventilated seats, a bigger infotainment display, and 20-inch wheels. The rugged models are off-roading focused. Toyota slaps on its recently-released Woodland badge onto the tougher model. Toyota also surprised with an athletic GR model. Tuned by Toyota's Gazoo Racing division, the GR SPORT gets a unique suspension setup, sharper steering, summer tires, and aggressive styling including wing-type spoilers. Previously, GR models were exclusive to Toyota's more enthusiast-focused models , like the Corolla Hatch. But now, the division is making its mass-market debut. 'It's worth applauding Toyota on ensuring each of the new RAV4 trims have their own unique design, from the outdoorsy Woodland to the boy-racer GR Sport,' DeGraff added. Shoppers on social media have also been supporting the car's latest design. 'These are gonna keep selling like hotcakes,' one gearhead commented on Reddit. 'It looks handsome and the interior has a mix of traditional buttons and screens. They haven't messed it up like so many manufacturers do with redesigns.' Recently, Toyota has been on a tear with new model announcements. The car company unveiled its new C-HR: the diminutive SUV is making its American reintroduction, three years after it was pulled form the market. This time, it's reappearing as a $35,000 EV with a 300-mile range. The company also redesigned the bZ4X, its only current mass-market battery-operated car. Next year's design smooths out some of the EV's funky angles and improves on the battery's efficiency. It also simplifies the name to just bZ.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
America's top-selling car finally gets a redesign after eight years... and ditches the gas engine
America's favorite car is getting a major facelift. After months of cryptic teasers and close-up shots that revealed little more than headlights and body lines, Toyota has finally pulled the cover off the redesigned RAV4. Next year's RAV4 ditches gas-only entirely, going all-in on hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Aesthetically, it sports a chunkier, more upright stance that gives the compact SUV a more menacing vibe — and early impressions are positive. 'There's a RAV4 for everyone's taste,' Robby DeGraff, a product and consumer insights expert at AutoPacific, told 'The sixth-gen RAV4's boxier shape rewards consumers with a much bigger, wider appearance.' Toyota's new plug-in system cranks out up to 320 horsepower — an 18 hp increase over the outgoing model — and now delivers an estimated 50 miles of all-electric range. It also brings DC fast-charging to the table, which juices the battery from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. The plug-in charging speed is not impressive: other EVs can reach the same levels in shorter periods of time with much larger batteries. But hybridizing the RAV4 felt like an obvious choice for the brand. Toyota has been relaunching several best-selling cars, like the Camry, as an all-hybrid lineup. Toyota's hybrid system adds a boost of electric torque during low-end speeds and optimizes fuel efficiency on the highway. The engineneering allows drivers to enjoy enhanced driving dynamics and less pain at the gas pump. Toyota has not released pricing or mileage estimates yet. But scuttlebutt around the release is estimating a base-price in the mid $30,000s and top-end models fetching a little less than $50,000. Expect Toyota to make hundreds of thousands of copies at its battery and assembly plant in Kentucky. US-based production will make the popular SUV less susceptible to President Donald Trump's 25 percent automotive tariffs. For those prices, Toyota can expect the RAV4 to virtually print money for the corporation. The RAV4 gets a new front fascia with a more upright look - it modernizes America's favorite car for the first time in seven years Simon Humphries, Toyota's head of design, was one of the presenters at last night's unveil The Japanese brand shocked the automotive world last year, outpacing the Ford F-150 as America's best-selling vehicle with 475,193 units sold from American dealerships. The 2026 model year also introduces a trio of new spec options: core, rugged, and sport, each tailored to a different kind of SUV owner. Drivers can opt for the LE, XLE, and Limited trims and upgrade to ventilated seats, a bigger infotainment display, and 20-inch wheels. The rugged models are off-roading focused. Toyota slaps on its recently-released Woodland badge onto the tougher model. Toyota also surprised with an athletic GR model. Tuned by Toyota's Gazoo Racing division, the GR SPORT gets a unique suspension setup, sharper steering, summer tires, and aggressive styling including wing-type spoilers. Previously, GR models were exclusive to Toyota's more enthusiast-focused models, like the Corolla Hatch. But now, the division is making its mass-market debut. Off-roading trims of the RAV4 will get orange highlights and seat stitching in the interior The RAV4's new nose might look familiar - it borrows headlamp designs from the Camry and badge placement from the Corolla Toyota also added a flip-able center console that can act as a elbow cushion on one side and a hard-cover table on the other The RAV4's boot opts for chromed lettering instead of a brand badge 'It's worth applauding Toyota on ensuring each of the new RAV4 trims have their own unique design, from the outdoorsy Woodland to the boy-racer GR Sport,' DeGraff added. Shoppers on social media have also been supporting the car's latest design. 'These are gonna keep selling like hotcakes,' one gearhead commented on Reddit. 'It looks handsome and the interior has a mix of traditional buttons and screens. They haven't messed it up like so many manufacturers do with redesigns.' Recently, Toyota has been on a tear with new model announcements. The car company unveiled its new C-HR: the diminutive SUV is making its American reintroduction, three years after it was pulled form the market. This time, it's reappearing as a $35,000 EV with a 300-mile range. The company also redesigned the bZ4X, its only current mass-market battery-operated car. Next year's design smooths out some of the EV's funky angles and improves on the battery's efficiency. It also simplifies the name to just bZ. The bZ's update extends Toyota's cooperation with fellow Japanese automaker Subaru. Both companies also released a wagon-like model that has a longer wheelbase and more off-roading capabilities. Toyota named the new model the bZ Woodland.
